Dec 23, 2008 6:44 pm US/Eastern
Cautious Shoppers Hit Up Mall For Last Gifts
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Retailers are trying to lure in customers with sales that aren't normally seen until after Christmas.
Jon Hurst of the Massachusetts Retail Association says, "There's been three strikes against us. You start off with the short season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have one less weekend of shopping this year than last year, we have the weather, and we have a consumer that's very, very cautious."
Tuesday at the North Shore Mall, there were a mix of procrastinators, and people who were stranded at home during the weekends storms. Ruth Weick said yesterday the parking lots were so crowed they turned around and tried again this morning. "Today we got up early got a good space and went like bandits and did well."
Her husband, Steve, added, "I kind of enjoy the last minute of going through and seeing what I can find." How come? "It makes it seem like the Christmas season."
Some shoppers like Stacy Macintyre say they have stuck to their budgets, but only using debit cards and checks.
"No charging this year. With the high interest rates, I don't want them," she said.
Others admit, they are still impulse shoppers. Peter Tolan is doing all his stopping at the last minute because he just flew in from LA, saying with a laugh, "It's sort of like dental work, I'd rather get dental work quickly."
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